Vacuum frame arrangement



March 3, 1936. A. T. KOPPE VACUUM FRAME ARRANGEMENT Filed Oct. 30, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet l MWWIIHM.

INVENTOR Alexander [Mp 2e 0021M, M 9- M ATTORNEYJ A. T. KOPPE 2,032,485 VACUUM FRAME ARRANGEMENT Filed Oct. 30, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 3, 1936.

VZW, M 9 ATTORNEYJ March 3, 1936. A. T. KOPPE VACUUM FRAME ARRANGEMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 30, 1954 INVENTOR Aierazzzier 17172 1 0 ATTORNEY? Patented Mar. 3, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

My invention relates to a vacuum frame arrangement adapted for use with a photo-composing machine, or equivalent.

My invention has particular reference to a vacuum frame arrangement of such improved character that it may readily be associated in a highly satisfactory manner with the light sensitive surface of a photo-composing machine.

Various other objects, advantages and characteristics of my invention will become apparent from the following description.

My invention resides in the vacuum frame arrangement, features and combinations of the character hereinafter described and claimed.

For an understanding of my invention and for an illustration of one of the forms thereof, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is an elevational view of a vacuum frame as constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is an edge elevational view, partly in section, of the frame shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, of said frame;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view, partly in elevation, and is taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view, partly in elevation, and is taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view, partly in elevation, and is taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. '7 is a transverse sectional view, partly in elevation, and is taken on the line 'l--'l of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional View, partly in elevation, showing the novel vacuum frame in operative relation with a light-sensitive surface;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a part of the clamping mechanism for the transparent plate; and

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a filler rail.

With vacuum frames of a proposed type, it has been ascertained in practice that the light-sensitive plate or surface of the photo-composing machine becomes embossed or indented throughout an area extending around the negative-carrying plate and within the space defined by the frame proper. This is highly undesirable and is overcome in an advantageous manner by the novel vacuum frame arrangement hereinafter .described.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a vacuum frame arrangement which comprises a square base I, each side of which is formed with a pair of dowel holes Ia, two dowel holes of each set being disposed on opposite sides of the adjacent frame center line and spaced equidistantly therefrom.

As indicated in Fig. 2, the base I comprises the laterally arranged web-sections lb which terminate in the square supporting structure [0, the inner surfaces of which define a large square opening id through which the projecting light beam passes. The supporting structure I0 is provided with a square channel which receives an endless sealing strip 2 of rubber or other suitable resilient material, this sealing strip normally projecting to some slight extent beyond the outer surface of said supporting structure lc, Figs. 4-7 inclusive.

The sealing strip 2 forms a support for a plate P of glass or equivalent transparent material, said plate being adapted to carry the usual photographic positive or negative utilizable for photocomposing purposes. For securing the plate P in the position chosen, any suitable clamping arrangement may be provided. As herein shown, this clamping arrangement comprises a plurality of similar clamping devices C each of which comprises a member 3 slidably mounted on a pair of spaced pins 4 seated in the supporting structure l0 and projecting into a chamber le formed in said supporting structure. The member 3, between the pins 4, is provided with a passage through which a screw 5 loosely extends, said screw being threaded into a bushing 6 seated in the supporting structure Ic, Fig. 7. Preferably, a pair of helical springs 1, Figs. 3 and 5, are seated in the supporting structure lc, these springs engaging the member 3 and biasing the same in an outward direction. As clearly shown in Fig. 9, the upper surface of the member 3 terminates in a pair of spaced inclined sections 3a each of which carries a face member 8 of leather or the like adapted to engage the adjacent inclined face of the plate P.

As shown in Fig. 1, the upper and lower horizontal sides of the supporting structure lc carry a pair of the clamping devices C which are disposed in suitable spaced relation. Further each vertical side of said supporting structure I0 is shown as carrying a single clamping device C which is disposed midway between the top and bottom thereof. It will be understood that the arrangement described immediately above may be varied in any desired manner.

With the base I horizontally disposed and with the sealing strip 2 facing upwardly, the plate P may be disposed thereon after the screws 5 have been sufnciently retracted to permit the necessary outward movement of the clamping members 3. Thereupon, by manipulation of the screws 5, the plate P may be adjusted to a desired position on the supporting structure lo and then, by completely tightening said screws 5, the plate P may permanently be retained in such position, V 1

The aforesaid supporting structure lc, outwardly of the above described chambers le, is provided with a square channel H defined in part by the rim members lg of said supporting structure Ic. In .accordance with the invention,

each side of this channel receives the depending vertical section 9 of a filler rail F of angular configuration in section as shown in Figs. 4-8 inclusive. Vertical elongated slots 9a are formed adjacent each end of the vertical section 9' of each filler rail F and each of these slots has a screw I!) extending loosely therethrough, each screw it] being threaded into a bushing l l seated in the supporting structure lc,'Fig. 4.

Preferably, the filler rails F are biased in a direction from right to left, Fig. 4, and, to this end, an arrangement of any suitable character may be utilized. As shown, a pair of helical springs I2 are associated with each filler rail F, these springs being seated in recesses provided respectively therefor in the supporting structure la and said springs l2 being positioned adjacent the respective'ends of each filler rail as indicated in Fig. 3.

Disposed in the aforesaid channel I f is an endless sealing strip I3 of rubber or other suitable resilient material, this sealing strip comprising a lateral and angular extending section l3a..

The sealing strip I3 is detached from the vaouum frame arrangement at the time that the plate'P is disposed upon the sealing strip 2 and brought to a desired registered position as described above. As shown in Fig. 3, each filler rail sections is provided with a passage 91) and the adjacent rim member I g' is provided with a corresponding passage lh,the passages 9b and lh being alined with respect to the screw 5 so that a screw driver may be passed through the alined passages when the said screw 5 is to be manipulated. Further, as shown in Fig. 3, each rim member lg is provided with the passages Ii which are alined with respect to the respective screws It.- With an arrangement of this character, a screw driver may readily be passed through the adjacent passage'li when one of the screws ID is to be tightened or loosened.

After the plate P has been clamped in registered position as described above, the entire vacuum frame arrangement may be inverted and then placed upon a suitable fiat surface. With the screws I0 retracted, the springs l2 bias the filler rails F downwardly and cause the filler rail sections to come into engagement with said fiat surface upon which the vacuum frame arrangement'is supported, eachfiller rail section 90 being recessed as at M so that said filler rail sections may clear'the sections 3a of the members 3. The screws 10 may now be tightened to positively clamp the filler rails F in the position to which adjusted as last described. It results, thereforathat-the outer surfaces of the filler rail sections 90 are thus brought into and cla'mpedin' such position that they are flush or substantially so withthe outer surface of the plate For the reasons hereinafter stated, it

is highly desirable for this result to be accomplished. However, in accordance with the invention, it shall be understood that the alinement of these surfaces may be accomplished in such other suitable manner as may be desirable.

After the above noted surfaces of the filler rails F and plate P have been alined, the sealing strip I 3 may be disposed in the channel I) so .as to occupy a position such as shown on the drawings. The vacuum frame arrangement may now be disposed in a photo-composing machine and when thus disposed, as understood in the art a suitable light-sensitive member S carried bya support 8, Fig. 8, is positioned flush against the outer surface of the plate P. In so doing, the angular section |3a of the sealing strip I3 is deflected sidewise to thereby form a sealed chamber with respect to the light-sensitive member S. Thereupon, by a suitable pump, not

shown, air is withdrawn from the sealed chamv ber" thus formed between the plate P and said light-sensitive member S, whereby a close degree of contact is obtained betwen said plate and member.

In accordance with the invention, the space be- Moreover, this surface is flush with the outersurface of said plate P. p

In the absence of an arrangement'of this or equivalent character, embossingor deformation of the light-sensitive member S occurs to a sub-- stantial extentin the space immediately outside of the plate P when the aforesaid vacuum condition is produced. This is highly undesirable because adversely aifecting-the appearance of the printed sheets eventually obtained from the developed light-sensitive surface.

' The above described filler rails F do not entirely fill the space between the plate P and the "sealing strip l3. 'However, the dimensions of the filler rail sections 90 are such that the aforesaid space is filledto the extent deemed necessary to prevent extensive embossing of the light-sensitive surface. 'The gaps which remain between the filler rails and the plate P are relatively narrow and, therefore, are of little'consequence insofar as any substantial embossing actionis concerned.

The disclosed arrangement is highly satisfactory from a practical viewpoint. The fillerrails do not adversely interfere with the described registration'andclamping of the plate P. Moreover, the filler rails may readily be adjustedin the disclosed oran equivalent manner to readily bring the outer surfaces of the rail sections flush with respect tothe outer surface of the plate P.

While the invention has been described with respect to acertain particular preferred example which gives satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the'art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended therefore in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modificationa What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a frame defining a central opening for the passage of a projecting light beam, a representation-carrying plate, means cooperating with said plate to secure it in fixed position to said frame, a channel formed in said frame along each side of said plate and spaced therefrom, a sealing strip of flexible material disposed in said channel, a filler rail having a flat outer surface disposed in the space between said plate and sealing strip, and means whereby said filler rail may be adjusted to position said fiat outer surface substantially fiush with respect to the outer surface of said fixed plate.

2. In combination, a frame defining a central opening for the passage of a projecting light beam, a representation-carrying plate, means cooperating with said plate to secure it in fixed position to said frame, a channel formed in said frame along each side of said plate and spaced therefrom, a sealing strip of flexible material disposed in said channel,- a filler rail having a fiat outer surface disposed in the space between said plate and sealing strip, means whereby said filler rail may be adjusted to position said flat outer sur-' face substantially flush with respect to the outer surface of said fixed plate, and screw-threaded means for retaining said filler rail in an adjusted position.

3. In combination, a frame defining a central opening for the passage of a projecting light beam,

a representation-carrying plate secured to said frame, said frame defining a channel extending along each side of said plate and spaced therefrom, a continuous sealing strip of flexible material disposed in said channel, and separate filler rails extending along each side of said plate and having fiat outer surfaces disposed substantially fiush with respect thereto, each filler rail having an angular section depending into said channel. 4. In combination, a frame defining a central opening for the passage of a projecting light beam, a representation-carrying plate secured to said frame, said frame defining a channel extending along each side of said plate and spaced therefrom, a continuous sealing strip of flexible material disposed in said channel, separate filler rails extending along each side of said plate and having fiat outer surfaces disposed substantially fiush with respect thereto, each filler rail having an angular section depending into said channel, and means coacting with said frame and with each filler rail for retaining the latter in adjusted positions.

ALEXANDER T. KOPPE. 

